The History of 625 Squadron Losses
05.03.1945 No. 426 RCAF Squadron Halifax VII PN228 OW-A Sqn Ldr. Eric Thomas Garrett

Operation: Chemnitz

Date: March 5 1945 (Monday)

Unit: 426 RCAF Squadron - Motto: On Wings of Fire

Squadron Badge heraldry: A Thunderbird

Type: Handley Page Halifax VII

Serial: PN228

Code: OW-A

Base: RAF Linton on Ouse, North Riding of Yorkshire

Location: Crashed near Linton on Ouse following collision with 425 Squadron aircraft MZ845

Pilot: S/L Eric Thomas Garrett J10741 RCAF Age 24 - Killed (1)

Fl/Eng: P/O Eric Stanley Jerome 195710 RAFVR Age 24 - Killed (2)

Nav: F/O John Leslie Atkinson J35829 RCAF Age 32 - Killed (3)

Air/Bmr: F/O Kenneth George Parker J36081 RCAF Age 22 - Killed (4)

W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O William Gordon Miller J94338 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (5)

Air/Gnr: P/O John Blair Linstead J94527 RCAF Age 19 - Killed (6)

Air/Gnr: P/O Harold Dick Mcleod J94365 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (7)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Collision with another aircraft, Halifax MZ845. With no surviving crew members it is impossible to exclude the possibility that the pilot had lost control as a result of severe icing conditions that existed at the time. For further details see JB122 ADDENDUM: AIRFRAME ICING - Loss 4



BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS



(1) Sqn Ldr Eric Thomas Garrett was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 12.

His epitaph reads

O valiant spirit

R.I.P.

Son of Charles E.C. and Sheila Garrett, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Your mission completed,




(2) P/O Eric Stanley Jerome was buried at Acton Cemetery - Section M, Row V, Grave 55.

His epitaph reads:

“Until the day break

And the shadows flee away”

Till then

Son of Thomas and Elsie Jerome; husband of Joan Louise Jerome, of Acton, London.



(3) F/O John Leslie Atkinson was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 11.

His epitaph reads:

Greater love

Hath no man than this

Son of John Thomas and Beatrice Mae Atkinson; husband of Mary Atkinson, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. B.Comm. Accountant.




(4) F/O Kenneth George Parker was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 10.

His epitaph reads:

Your cheery word

And smiling face

Are greatly missed

Son of George and Janet Stewart Scott Parker, of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.




(5) P/O William Gordon Miller was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 1.

His epitaph reads:

May his soul

Rest in peace

Son of Harold Gordon and Mary Ann Miller, of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada.





(6) P/O John Blair Linstead was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 9.

His epitaph reads:

He is gone but not forgotten

By his mother and dad

Brother and sisters

Son of Thomas John and Helen Blair Linstead, of High River, Alberta, Canada.




(7) P/O Harold Dick Mcleod was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 8.

His epitaph reads:

To a dear son and brother:

Till we meet again

Hail and farewell!

Oh, gallant heart

Son of John W.G. and Anne I. Mcleod, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.






References:

Aircrew Remembered Archive Report: JB122 Addendum- Airframe Icing. Journey’s End, Kevin Wilson- Chapter Fourteen, A COLD AND SILENT KILLER pp. 266-292. Library and Archives Canada/ancestry.ca. Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Photo Credits:

LAC/ancestry.ca: Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947. F1. S/L Eric Garrett- File 27570 Image 257. F2. F/O John Atkinson - File 24771 Image 363. F3. F/O Kenneth Parker - File 28376 Image 239. F4. P/O William Miller - File 28245 Image 83. F5. P/O John Linstead - File 27993 Image 172. F6 P/O Harold McLeod - File 28129 Image 163.


Co-Authors:

John Naylor

Maureen Hicks

Pete Pearson

Reg Price DFC, 625 Squadron vet

Submission by John Proctor, Jack Albrecht and Nic Lewis.

JA 08-09-2019

© 2004-2024 John Albrecht